Methods and Apparatus for Adjusting Blood Circulation

Abstract

A method and device for increasing blood flow by applying positive pressure to extremities of a mammal and / or controlling the temperature of the mammal. The device includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements capable of expanding and flexibly applying pressurized compression forces to the extremity of the mammal by attaching one or more pressure-applying gas plenums as close to the extremity as possibly. The flexible extremity device can be used independently or can be used in conjunction with thermal pads disposed to the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Alternatively, the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements can be manufactured into thermal pads.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 868,542, filed Dec. 4, 2006 [DYNA / 0007L], and the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 896,460, filed Mar. 22, 2007 [DYNA / 0008L]. Each of the aforementioned related patent applications are herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for increasing blood flow within a human extremity and / or adjusting and maintaining the temperature of the body core.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Homoiothermic animals, such as humans, strive to maintain relatively constant internal temperatures despite temperature variations in ambient environments and fluctuations in internal heat released as cellular metabolism byproducts. In humans, the thermal core generally includes the vital organs of the body, such as th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for increasing blood flow and / or controlling body temperature which can be used in regulating body temperature to prevent and / or intervene thermal maladies, deep vein thrombosis, PE and other disease arising from a compromised thermal regulatory system inside a mammal. In one embodiment, a flexible extremity device is provided for regulating temperature and providing positive pressure or compression on an extremity of a mammal, such as a hand, an arm, a leg, foot, or calf of a leg, in order to increase blood flow in the extremity.

[0019]The present invention generally provides a device for increasing blood flow and controlling body temperature, comprising a plenum having one or more walls that enclose an internal region, wherein at least one of the one or more walls is adapted to be disposed over a region of a patient, one or more thermal exchanging units that are disposed between the one or more walls and the region of the patient, and a pump that is adapted to control the pressure within the internal region to urge the one or more thermal exchanging units against the region of the patient to improve the thermal contact between the one or more thermal exchange units and the region of the patient.

[0026]Further, a method is provided for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal. According to one or more embodiment of the invention, the method includes providing to one or more extremities of the mammal one or more devices, sealing the portion of the one or more extremities around an opening of the one or more devices using a sealing element formed on a portion of the opening. The one or more devices includes one or more thermal exchange units adapted to contact the portion of the one or more extremities, and one or more collapsible and pliant body elements having one or more pressure-applying gas plenums and one or more pressure ports attached thereto. The one or more collapsible and pliant body elements are capable of applying positive pressure or compression onto an extremity of a mammal. The method further includes adjusting the positive pressure inside the one or more pressure-applying gas plenums and increasing blood flow of the one or more extremities using the one or more devices.

Problems solved by technology

Blood volume and cardiac output in mammals are insufficient to uniformly perfuse all tissues in the body.

The thermoregulatory system in homoiothermic animals can be compromised by many factors (anesthesia, trauma, environment, others) and may lead to the various thermal maladies and disease conditions.

Thermal maladies, such as hypothermia and hyperthermia, can occur when the thermoregulatory system is overwhelmed by severe environmental conditions.

However, vasoconstriction makes it much more difficult to reverse a hypothermic state since vasoconstriction impedes the transfer of heat from the body surface to the thermal core and makes it difficult to simply apply heat to the surface of the body.

Other thermal malady related diseases, such as venous thromboembolic disease, continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality.

In addition, these drugs carry the risk of bleeding complications, thus cannot be used for prophylaxis for surgical induced DVT.

Sequential pneumatic compression devices (SCD), which mechanically compress and directly apply positive message-type pressures to muscles in the calf and foot sequentially, are routinely used in the hospital setting but are cumbersome and difficult to use.

However, most devices for regulating body temperature may not provide sufficient heat or adequate surface area for heat transfer optimization or the ability to evenly distribute the heat via the heating element and the body surface of the patient.

In addition, the devices may not be able to adapt to the variability in patient sizes or provide mobility of the body portion during prolong treatment.

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